Asked to comment on President Bush`s nomination of Barbara Franklin to be commerce secretary, Sen. Ernest Hollings was nonplused.
Through an aide, the South Carolina Democrat was quoted as saying: ”I know who Aretha Franklin is. I don`t know who Barbara Franklin is.”
Sen. Hollings` confusion is understandable. Outside of Republican fundraising circles and corporate board rooms, the 51-year-old management consultant isn`t well-known, even within the Capitol Beltway.
But her relative obscurity shouldn`t be a handicap. A principal task of the secretary is to champion the interests of American business, and, for that job, her credentials are impressive.
One of the first women to get an MBA from Harvard, she is a director of seven major corporations, including Dow Chemical and Westinghouse. She is widely respected for her knowledge of business, economics and international trade.
But she`ll be taking over a department that has lost clout and direction under Robert Mosbacher, who is resigning to head Bush`s re-election campaign. It will take more than cheerleading for her to restore Commerce`s credibility and influence.
Bush made it clear he`s expecting more. He wants Franklin to be part of his economic policy team with one priority in mind-”jobs and economic growth.”
Franklin seems capable of bringing Commerce renewed energy and leadership. She`ll definitely contribute valuable, practical experience to economic policy.
